Pallet loading machines



y 1960 w. s. RAYNOR 2,946,465

PALLET LOADING MACHINES Filei Nov. 16, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WARREN s. RAYNOR ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 w. s. RAYNOR 2,946,465

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INVENT OR hmu ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 16, 1954 3. 3 INVENTOR WARREN S. RAYNOR MWW ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 ATTORNEY S July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 INVENTOR WARREN S. RAYNOR ATTORNEYS July 26,1960 w. s. AYNQR 2,946,465

PALLET LOADING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed NOV. 16, 1954 I N VENTOR WARREN s. RAYNOR BYM,%A7"W% ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed NOV. 16, 1954 I N VENTOR WARREN S. RAYNOR ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 INVENTOR WARREN S. RAYNOR ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 INVENTOR WARREN S. RAYNOR ATTORNEYS W. 5. RAYNOR July 26, 1960 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed NOV. 1954 m m w m m m A R M 4% & $5 Eb u 3* m mg m 5.. 4 2w w w v zl... Be NOT On? hon SI -m womFK ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed NOV. 16, 1954 mum INVENTOR WARREN s. RAYNOR BYWMZLZLPW ATTORNEYS July 26, 1960 w. s. RAYNOR PALLET LOADING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 mmv IMF mam mm? x 2-3 mm.

INVENTOR WARREN S. RAYNOR @w W,%

ATTORNEYS nited States 2,946,465 PALLET LOADING MACHINES Warren S. Raynor Port Hope Ontario to Mathews Coiiveyer Conipany, corporation of Pennsylvania Canada, assignor Ellwood City, Pa., a

Ih1s invention relates to machines for assembling articles from a conveyer line into a unit load which may be handled by a fork truck. In the embodiment here in described and illustrated, articles from the conveyer line are assembled onto pallets with tiers of articles assembled in patterns providing interlocking between the tiers, and the loaded pallets are discharged into position for removal by a fork truck.

In ordinary material handling installations, articles moving along a conveyer line, as from a production line, are manually assembled onto pallets or other unit loads which may be handled by a fork truck for warehousing and shipping purposes. While there have been proposals for automatically assembling articles from a conveyer onto a pallet, these proposals have for the most part been limited to the handling of articles of a specific S126 or shape and difliculties have been encountered when efiorts have been made to utilize such machines on articles of a different size or shape. Also machine loaded pallets have frequently carried unstable loads due to the inability of machines to compact the articles as they are loaded on the pallet. Such machines have been of ineflicient design and required repeated handling of articles from the time they leave the conveyer until they are positioned properly upon the pallet.

A major object of this invention is to provide a machine adaptable to assemble articles of varying sizes and shapes into a stable unit load.

An important object of the invention is to assemble a layer of articles by feeding successive rows from a conveyor directly onto an apron from which the layer may be deposited upon the pallet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet loading machine of compact design which occupies a minimum of floor space and therefore has a large capacity per unit of area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pallet loading machine in which each layer of articles is compacted as it is deposited upon the pallet to increase the stability of the load on the pallet.

A specific object of this invention is to provide an article turning device which satisfactorily turns or otherwise handles cartons in pairs as well as individually in order that such cartons may be stacked at an increased rate in desired patterns upon a pallet.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved control by which the lift supporting the pallet is lowered following deposit of a layer of articles upon the pallet until the upper surface of the deposited layer is positioned a specific distance beneath the apron from which the load is deposited.

In the attainment of these objects, one important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of an apron at the upper part of a shaft in which the pallet is raised and lowered with a conveyer extending from the upper part of the shaft to feed articles directly onto selected areas of the apron which are successively positioned in alignment with the conveyer. At the back of the shaft is an empty pallet magazine for receiving and containing atent.

a stack of empty pallets which are shifted one by one by a transfer device to the bottom of the shaft where a lift raises the pallet to a point beneath the apron. The apron is shiftable from its extended position overlying a pallet on the lift to a retracted position withdrawn from the shaft and positioned overtop of the empty pallet magazine. Extending from the front of the shaft and aligned with the transfer for the pallet is a pallet discharge conveyer which removes a loaded pallet from the lift and moves the loaded pallet to a position for loading onto a forked truck.

Cooperating with the feeding conveyer is a suitable escapement for controlling the feed of articles and, in cases of loading the articles in pairs, assuring the presence of a pair of articles at the infeed conveyor. Then, an article or a pair of articles is moved by the conveyer past a turning device which is selectively operated to permit the articles to continue or to turn them through an angle of Then, the articles are assembled in a row from which they are transferred by the feeding conveyer and the transfer device onto the apron which is indexed to receive successive rows until a layer is completed, at which time the apron is withdrawn and the layer deposited upon the pallet on the lift. Raising and lowering of the lift is controlled by a device at the upper part of the shaft and preferably beneath the apron which is retracted by the apron to initiate lowering of the lift until the upper surface of the articles on the lift passes beneath the device whereupon lowering of the lift is arrested. To accomplish the turning of an article or a pair of articles, the turning device includes a pair of pivotally mounted arms with independent power devices for swinging one of the arms to an article engaging position across the conveyer and then swinging both arms as a unit in the direction of travel of the conveyer to turn the article as it is moved along the conveyer path as well as to return the arms to a position paralleling the conveyer and retracted fromthe path of the article. Control of the full pallet lift is etfected by a control unit which has an arm swingable beneath the apron to a position above the lift and retractable by the apron to initiate lowering of the lift. A finger is movable on the end of the arm to engage the surface of articles on the lift and control movement of the lift.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pallet loading machine embodying the invention in its preferred form, some parts being broken away for purposes of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine shown in Fig. I, particularly illustrating the empty pallet magazine and lift with some parts broken away and others shown in section for purposes of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l with some parts broken away to illustrate others;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the escapement mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 with some parts shown in section;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the empty pallet lift showing the lift in the raised position;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged rear elevational view with parts broken away of the full pallet lift and magazine;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the carton turning device;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of the carton stop and the transfer device with some parts broken away and others shown in section for purposes of clearness;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the full pallet lift control unit;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view thereof;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the carton locater stops taken on the line 1515 of Fig.

Fig. 16 is a side elevation view thereof with some parts shown in section;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of the upper part of the shaft for the full pallet lift, particularly showing the closing-in guards;

Fig. 18 is an'enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the side closing-in guards taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a similar view of the front closing-in guards taken along the line 1919 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is. a schematic wiring diagram of the timing control system;

Figs. 21 and 22 are schematic diagrams of the electrical control circuits with the pneumatic and hydraulic systems illustrated; and

Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and pneumatic circuits for the turning device.

General arrangement 54 adjacent the magazine. Platform 53 is raised to a position to present the empty pallet carried thereby under and close to the plane of a horizontally movable apron 55 adapted to receive a layer of articles, such as cartons C, which has been formed into a desired pattern on the apron; the platform is lowered in increments as it receives successive layers of articles. When a predetermined load of superimposed layers of articles have been deposited on the pallet to assemble or form a unit load, the platform lowers to deposit the loaded pallet upon a discharge chain conveyer 56 by which it is moved onto a roller conveyer platform 57 for disposal.

The cartons or other articles to be formed into a unit load are brought to the machine by a conveyer such as gravity conveyer 57 and moved on a feeding conveyer in the form of an endless belt conveyer 58 extending from the shaft 54 in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the apron 55.

An escapement 59 is disposed in the path of the conveyer 58, adjacent its receive end, adapted to control the movement on the belt toward the apron; the escapement is normally in a position to stop a carton entering the machine. Beyond the escapement is a carton-turning device 60 controlled to turn cartons individually or in pairs through an angle of 90 on the belt, or to allow cartons to be moved by the belt onto the apron without turning to form cartons in a desired pattern on the apron. Beyond the turning device 60 is a build-up area which is in part defined on one side by the frame of the conveyer 58, on the other side by a guide 62, which is preferably spring-loaded, and at its end by a normally-raised carton stop 63.

Carton stop 63 remains in raised position, arresting the movement of a number of aligned cartons (the upper run of the belt sliding under the cartons) until the required number of cartons have been assembled ready to be transferred as a unit onto the apron. As the last of the number of cartons to be transferred as a unit engages the immediately preceding carton, the carton stop lowers, and a pusher element 67 of a transfer device 68 engages the last carton to assist the transfer of the row of articles onto the apron against a selected carton locater stop 69. Before the carton stop 63 is lowered, the apron 55 is indexed from its retracted position over the empty pallet magazine over the shaft 54 and resting on the lift platform a distance suflicient to provide-a supporting surface for the row of cartons to be transferred onto the apron. When cartons have been assembled in the buildup area to form another row, the apron 55 again is indexed an increment sutficient to receive the next row of cartons and the pusher 67 comes into operation to assist the transfer of the second row onto the apron.

When the last rowv to complete the layer is assembled on the apron, the apron is retracted, allowing the layer cartons to drop onto the pallet. Closing in guides 70 and 71 at the top of the shaft are operated to press inwardly on the end and both sides of the layer to compact the cartons in the layer as they drop onto the pallet. Platform 53 is lowered to the extent of the depth or height of the cartons, finally coming to a stop with the tops of the cartons immediately below the apron ready to receive a second layeror pattern of cartons.

The second layer of cartons, formed on the apron in a predetermined pattern, as previously explained, is deposited upon the first layer (resting on the platform); and so on, until the pallet is fully loaded, following which the loaded platform 53 lowers and deposits the loaded pallet onto the discharge conveyer 56. As the loaded pallet moves off the platform 53, an empty pallet is conveyed from the magazine 50 onto the now empty platform, and the platform rises and comes to a stop, ready to receive a layer of articles from the apron 55.

Carton entry escapement The escapement 59 controlling entry of cartons to the machine on feeding conveyer 58 includes a roller 72 (Fig. 7) journaled in the ends of a pair of arms 73 fixed to a shaft 74 journaled in the frame 75 of the endless belt conveyer 53.

lies in the plane ofthe upper face of the upper run of the conveyer belt so that the roller does not impede. the movement of any carton being moved forwardly by the. belt.

The escapement roller is adapted to be bodily rotated in an arc of approximately 90 by rotating the shaft 74.

through 90, in effect, to rise above the plane of the upper run of the belt and'present an abutment to any oncoming carton, by which the carton is stopped.

. Preferably, some of the rollers 77 supporting the belt conveyor have adjustably mounted shafts 78 to train the belt 58 as desired.

Fixed to one end of the shaft 74 is an arm 79 pivotally,

connected to piston rod 80 of an air cylinder 81. The end of the cylinder remote from the piston is pivotally supported as at 82 on a suitable bracket 83 secured to the w conveyor frame.

- The opposite (head and rear) ends'of the cylinder 81 are operatively connected by conduits to a solenoid-oper ated spring offset 4-way conventional air'valve V-I (Fig. 20) which controls the admission of air under pressure into the head or the rear end of the cylinder accordingly to actuate the piston in one or the other direction. The arrangement is such that the escapement roller '72 is normally in raised carton-stopping position when the valve V-1 is de-energized. Fixed to the shaft 74 is a striker arm 86 (Fig. 2) which is adapted to operate two limit switches LS-9 and LS-7 mounted on the frame.

Mounted on the side frame of the belt conveyor 58 at;

u the infeed end are two normally open limit switches LS 1 and LS-2 (Fig. 1). Positioned adjacent limit switches LS-l is a spring-loaded, switch-operating cam 88 having a strike arm 89 operable by a carton as it reaches the escapement roller 72. A similar switch operating cam 90 and striker 91 assembly is mounted adjacent limit switch LS-2. Arms 89 and 91 normally extend transversely of the belt conveyor to be engaged by a carton entering the mechanism.

If large cartons are being fed into the machine, both such arms will be engaged by the same carton. If pairs of cantons are being handled, the two arms will be engaged separately by the two cartons.

Upon operation of striker arms 89 and 91, the earns 88 and 90 operate the limit switches LS-1 and LS-2 to close the switches and hold them closed during the passage of the carton and while the striker is engaged by the carton.

When the two normally-open limit switches LS-1 and LS-2, which are in series, are closed, whether by a single large carton or by a pair of cartons, the solenoid-operated air valve V-l is energized, to allow air under pressure to enter the head end of the cylinder to rotate the escapement roller downwardly below the plane of the upper run of the belt conveyor, out of the path of the carton. As the carton moves forwardly under the action of the belt, it engages striker arm 92 of a normally-open limit switch LS-3 which is operated to closed position by a cam 93 similar in construction to the carton-operated cam pre viously described. This limit switch LS-3, when closed by a carton and while the carton still holds the switches LS-1 and LS-2 closed, actuates a relay to deenergize sole noid-operated air valve V-1 so that the valve is springreturned to its normal position when air under pressure is admitted into the rear end of the cylinder to move the plunger to raise the escapement roller to its normal, carton-stopping position. The switch LS-3 is so positioned that it is actuated while the trailing end of the entering carton is over the escapement roller 92 and raised by the roller, but the canton is moved forwardly by the action of the belt and partly pushed by the following carton, if any. As the carton moves off the escapement roller, the following carton, if any, comes to a stop against the escapement roller.

Carton turning device As already stated, this carton turning device 60 serves, when actuated, to turn a canton, or a pair of cartons through an angle of ninety degrees.

Two arms 96 and 97 are rotatable on a common vertical axis, so that they both rotate in a horizontal plane,

The arms, when in initial or normal position, are directed lengthwise and clear of the conveyor belt, being enclosed in a housing 98. The arms conveniently are of channel cross section, and of different depth. One arm, 96, is formed with two spaced hubs 99, 99 (Fig. 11) supported on a boss 100 supported by the lower wall or plate 101 of the housing 98 and rotating on a vertical shaft 102. The other arm, 97, is attached to a hub 103 turning on the shaft between the two hubs 99.

A lug or abutment 104 is formed on the hubs 99. of the arm 96; an abutment 105 is formed on the hub 103 of the arm 97. The abutments 104 and 105 are so disposed that they engage each other when the arms are in the relative positions shown in Figure 10, that is, when the arm 96 is in its operative position and the arm 97 is in its initial position. While such engagement is maintained, the arm 97 cannot rotate clockwise (as seen in Figure without rotating the arm 96 therewith.

The arm 96 is rotated counter-clockwise substantially 90 to operative position and returned to its normal position, by a two-way air cylinder 106 having its piston rod 107 pivotally connected at 108 to the arm 97 The other arm 97 is likewise rotated approximately 90, clockwise from a normal position by an air cylinder 109, having its piston rod 110 pivotally connected at 111 to the arm 97.

6 Both of the air cylinders are mounted in a bracket 112 for oscillatory displacement on vertical axes.

Pivotally mounted within the arm 96 as at 114, to rotate on a vertical axis, is a finger 115. The finger is retained in a normal position by a spring 116 tensioned between an adjustable screw 11'7 carried by the free end of the arm 96 and an extremity of the finger 115, the normal position being determined by the engagement of a portion of the finger with the web of the channel'arm. One end ofthe finger is formed with a portion which extends through an aperture in the web of the arm and is formed to present a portion 118 which lies at an obtuse angle to the plane of the forward face or web of the arm so that, when the arm is in its operative position, transversely of the belt, the portion -118 is presented tangentially to an oncoming carton. As the carton moves forwardly with the belt, it engages the portion 118, and rotates the finger clockwise on its axis against the tension in the spring 116. The carton advances until its leading face engages the arm 96. In this position, the carton is pressing against the arm because of the action of the belt, and the carton is restrained against lateral displacement by the finger portion 118 and the conveyor guard rail.

Air to actuate the two air cylinders 106 and 109 is controlled by a Z-position 4-way momentary contact solenoid-operated air valve V-2 (Fig. 23 )7. The cylinders are so piped to the air valve V-2 and to a cam-operated air valve 121, that when striker 120 on the arm 96 engages the cam-operated air valve, air pressure is applied to the head end of the cylinder 109 to shift the arm 97 to its normal position and to retain it in that position.

When control circuits are actuated to effect carton turning, in manner to be described, solenoid valve V-2 is shifted so air enters the rear end of the air cylinder 106, causing it to stroke out and rotate the arm 96 counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 10 to its operated position, in the path of oncoming cartons. As the arm 96 rotates, it releases the cam-operated air valve 121, to reverse the port connections to the cylinder 109. The cylinder 109, however, does not operate to rotate the arm 97 clockwise since the entering air line to the cam-operated valve 121 is now effectively connected to the exhaust line through the valve V-2. However, as a carton reaches the turning devices it actuates normally-open limit switch LS-8 on top of housing 98 by engagement with striker 119, so the in solenoid of the valve V-2 is energized, causing the valve V-Z to reverse. Air will now flow from the valve V-2, through the cam-operated valve 121, and into the rear of the cylinder 109, causing it to stroke out; at the same time, air flows into the head end of the cylinder 106. Both arms now rotate together in a clockwise direction apart. This 90 relationship is maintained by slightly retarding the rate of (clockwise) rotation of the arm 96 by the use of a speed control valve 123, so that the abutments 104 and on the arms are in contact.

As the (clockwise) rotation of both arms proceeds, the front face of the carton contacts a tapered portion 124 of the housing 98 so the rotational movement of the carton is arrested. Continued rotation of the arm 96, and its ingress through a slot into the housing 98, strips the gripper finger from the carton, so that the carton is now free to move with the belt, the carton having been turned 90. As the arm 96 reaches its normal position, striker engages the air valve 121, reversing the valve and allowing air to enter the head end of the cylinder 109, causing itto stroke in. This imparts a counter-clockwise rotation to the arm 97, causing it to return to its normal or at.

rest position. A speed control valve 125 is used to retard the return of the arm 97 to its initial position.

Either asingle carton or a pair of smaller cartons may proceed straight past the turning device 60 to be transferred to the apron in their original orientation, or, upon actuation of electrical controls to be described, may be turned as a unit through an angle of 90 without interruption to their movement along the belt 58. In this way, the

Orientation of cartons in the pattern to be assembled on the apron may be varied according to the size and shape ofthe cartons as well as the desired arrangement on the pallet. If the electrical controls signal the turning of an incoming carton as it leaves the escapement 59, the arm 96 is shifted to its operative position and the incoming carton engages striker 119 to actuate limit switch LS-S as the leading edge of the carton engages arm 96 and is retained by finger 115. This causes operation, in opposite directions,.of the cylinders 106 and 109 to rotate the arms 97 and 96 as a unit in a clockwise direction thereby turning either a single carton or a pair of cartons together through an angle of 90' until the cartons are removed by engagement with tapered portion 124 of the housing 98 whereupon the cartons are released and continue along with the belt 58. Arm 96, upon actuating valve 121 causes return of arm 97 to its inoperative and retracted position.

Transfer mechanism The transfer device 68 is used to assist in the transfer of a row of cartons, that is, a predetermined number of cartons assembled in the pattern build-up area, immediately at and stopped by the stop 63, as a unit onto the apron 55. This device essentially consists of pusher element 67 which is normally held at rest and in a horizontal position out .of the path of any carton travelling on the belt toward the build-up area, and which, upon the lowering of the stop 63, lowers to a vertical position and bodily moves forwardly to overtake the last of the cartons of the row to be transferred and to push the row onto the apron, following which the pusher returns to its initial location and to its normally-horizontal position.

The pusher element 67 forms one arm of a lever 127 (Figs. 6 and 12) pivotally mounted on a shaft 129 in a carriage 128 movable in tracks such as 130 formed in a frame structure 131 supported by suitable supports 132 above the plane of the belt 58 and overlying the same.

The carriage 128 is reciprocated by reciprocation of a hydraulically-operated cylinder 133 fixed to the frame structure. To provide for the required longitudinal displacement of the carriage 128 by a cylinder of a given stroke, the carriage is so operatively connected to the piston rod 134 of the cylinder that the stroke or displacement of the carriage is more than that of the piston rod in the ratio of 2 to l in the present instance. For that purpose, the piston rod has its outer end connected to a carriage 135 in the form of a rectangular frame riding in grooved tracks such as 136 formed on the inside faces of the side members of the frame structure 131.

Freely journalled in the carriage 135 are two sprockets 137 and 138. Freely journalled in the frame structure, adjacent the opposite ends thereof, are two sprockets 139 and 149. A chain 141, having its opposite ends anchored to the frame structure and to one end of the carriage, is passed around the sprockets 137 and 139. Another chain 142, having its opposite ends anchored to the frame and to the other end of the carriage, is passed around sprockets 138 and 140.

' Journalled on the shaft 129 are a pair of lever arms such as 144 on the ends of which are freely journalled cam rollers such as 145 adapted to ride in one or the other of two cam tracks 146 and 147 formed on the inside faces of the side members of the frame structure 131. Fingers such as 148 pivoted at their lower ends to the side members of the frame structure and spring-loaded normally to lie in a vertical direction to close the rearward ends of the upper cam tracks serve as stops for the lever cam rollers as the carriage 128 is moved forwardly. The fingers, on the other hand, are free to rotate counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 12, to allow the lever cam rollers 145 to ride out of the cam tracks 1 46, when, as will be presently explained, the carriage is returned from the end of its.

carton-pushing stroke to its normal starting position shown in Figure 12. Fingers such as 149 pivoted at their upper ends t'o-the side members of the frame structure are spring-loaded normally to close the lower cam tracksad-- jacent their forward extremities. The fingers rotate counter-clockwise to permit the passage of the lever cam rollers as the carriage is moved forwardly on its cartonpushing stroke, but serve as ramps guiding the lever rollers:

engaging arm 127 to lower to a substantially vertical posi-' tion rearwardly of the last carton in the row to be transferred onto the apron. Irrespective of the relative lineal speed of the belt and the arm, the arm catches up with the last carton as the row loses speed as the cartons leave the belt and slide over the apron as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The effective stroke of the arm is such that the row will be fully resting upon the apron, in engagement with the carton locator 69 before the arm reversm its forward stroke to return to its initial position.

The hydraulically-operated cylinder 133 is controlled by a two-position, 4-way spring offset solenoid-operated hydraulic valve V-4 (showndiagrammatically only in Figure 21). In the normal position of the valve, hydraulic fluid is admitted into the rear end of the cylinder so that the cylinder rod 134 is in its outward position and the pusher arm is in its initial position as shown in.

Fig. 12.

Carton stop Between the pattern build-up area beneath the transfer mechanism and the apron, the carton stop 63 defines theextreme-end of the build-up area, at the inner end of the belt conveyer. The stop is used to hold the cartons in the area on the belt, which slides under the cartons, until the required number of cartons are in place ready tobe transferred as a row unit onto the apron.

The stop 63 includes a spring-loaded stop plate substantially flush with the plane of the upper run of the belt conveyer.

The cartons in the build-up area are transferred onto the apron 55 upon the lowering of the stop. As seen in Figure 12, a plate 170 has fixed thereto a number of' rods such as 171 which are slidable in flange 172 on a plate 173. The rods are threaded on their free ends to receive nuts such as 174. Compressed between the plates articles engaging the stop as well as the impact of accumulated articles.

The plate 173 carries a number of vertically directed rods such as 176 sliding in brackets like 177 secured to a frame member 178.

The stop device is actuated verticallyby an air cylinder 181 controlled by a spring offset solenoid-operated 4-way valve V3 (Figure 21) piped so that the stop is normally in raised, carton-stopping position as aforesaid with the solenoid valve V-3 de-energized.

When the solenoid of the valve is energized, the valve is actuated to reverse the flow of air to the cylinder, causing the stop to lower, and thus allowing the transfer of the row of cartons onto the apron. After the row has been transferred onto the apron, the solenoid is de-energized, allowing the air valve to reset under the action of its spring, thus again causing the reversal of the flow of air to the cylinder and causing the stop to rise to its normal raised position.

Empty pallet magazine and lift formed with an opening 183 providing a passage for a.

9 pallet as it is being transferred to the full pallet lift platform 53 by the chains of the conveyer. A front plate 184 serves to conceal the lifting mechanism.

A lift platform 185 disposed in the bottom of the maga zine is raised and lowered by a pneumatically-operated toggle mechanism to raise the entire stack of pallets and subsequently deposit the lowermost pallet onto the conveyer, while the remainder of the stack is supported above and clear of the lowermost pallet.

An air cylinder 1% is pivotally supported as at 187 by brackets 183. The piston rod is p-ivotally connected as at 189 to an arm 19% rigid to a shaft 191 journalled in brackets 192. Another shaft 193 is journalled in brackets similar to brackets 192. Both shafts are rotated or oscillated together as by a link 1% pivotally connected at its opposite ends to levers 195 rigid on the shafts 193 and 191.

Rigid with the shafts are levers 196 the outer endsof which are pivotally connected to the lower ends of links 197 as at 198; the upper ends of the links are pivotally connected to the frame of the lift. Opposite sides of the lift frame carry freely rotatable wheels 1% which ride in vertically-directed tracks 200. The lift platform is thus constrained to a vertical movement. strokes out, the platform rises, the platform lowering as the cylinder strokes in.

Rotatably supported on two sides of the lift are two shafts 201 to which are rigidly secured members 202 having fingers 2tl3 adaptaed to be inserted into the framework of a pallet to form supports therefor. Also fixed to the shafts 231 are cam levers 204 spring-loaded as by springs 205 to urge rotation of the shafts in opposite direction to withdraw the supporting fingers 203 from the pallet and to release the same.

Suspended from the frame of the lift are members 2416 each carrying a cam follower 2117 engaging the cam face 2% on cams 204 to control the angular position of the shaft 201 to which it is fixed and therefore, the position of the fingers 203.

The cams are such that when the platform is in its lowered position, the fingers are in their operative palletsupporting position. As the platform rises, the cams, being spring-loaded, tend to withdraw the fingers to inoperative position. If a pallet is supported by the fingers the tension in the spring 2&5 is not sutficient to withdraw the fingers because of the load imposed by the stack of pallets. As the platform rises farther, it lifts the pallet off the fingers and the fingers withdraw fully out of the path of the pallet. As the platform begins to lower, it lowers the pallet therewith, and when the pallet is below the fingers, the rollers 207 actuate the fingers inwardly inserting them into the pallet lying above the pallet immediately in contact with the platform. As the platform continues its lowering movement, the fingers provide supports for the stack of pallets which lie above the pallet being lowered by the platform. The air cylinder is controlled by a momentary contact Z-position solenoid operated 4- way air valve V-5. Fixed to the shaft 191 are two actuators adapted to operate, respectively, twolimit switches LS-14 and LS15. The switch LS-14 is a normally-open switch which is closed when the air cylinder is in its in position, that is, when the lift is in its fully lowered position. Switch LS15 is a normally-open switch and is closed when the air-cylinder is in its fully out position, that is, when the lift is in its fully raised position.

Positioned adjacent the bulkhead 182 is a limit switch LS-13. This switch is actuated by a pallet lying on the conveyor, and remains actuated until the pallet has been moved through the bulkhead onto the full-pallet platform 53.

empty pallet magazine and elevates the pallet to present the same just below the planeof travel of the apron 55.

As the cylinder 186' if) The lift is lowered in successive steps as layers of cartons are dropped from the apron, and is finally lowered to deposit the loaded pallet onto the discharge conveyer.

The lift platform 53 includes a channel beam 209 (Figs. 4 and 6) supporting a number of cross channels 210 in which rollers 211 are freely rotatable. The ends of the beam "209 have shoes 212 which slide in vertical tracks 213 so that the platform rises and lowers.

The platform is suspended by hoisting chains 215, 215, and raised and lowered by the operation of a hydraulic cylinder 214. The operation of the cylinder is controlled by a 4-way spring-centered solenoid-operated hydraulic valve V-fi (Fig. 22).

One chain is anchored at one end to one end of the beam, more particularly to one of the shoes 212 and passed over three sprockets 2'16 and attached at its other end to a coupler 217. The other chain is anchored at one end to the other shoe on the beam and passes over sprocket 218 and attached to the coupler 217. The coupler in turn is attached to one end of a chain 220 which passes around a sprocket 221 freely rotatably mounted to the end of piston rod 219 of the hydraulic cylinder 214 and is anchored at its other end to a bracket 222 secured to the machine frame. The platform therefore is raised as the cylinder strokes up and lowered as the cylinder strokes down, the lift platform '53 rising or lowering twice the displacement of the piston rod 219.

The upper end of the piston rod 219 is secured tov carriage 225, in which the sprocket 221 is journalled, which rides in tracks 227. Carried by the carriage is a striker 22s adapted to engage three normally-open limit switches LS-21, LS-18 and LS-17 mounted on one of the tracks 227 to control operation of the lift in a manner to be described. A spring loaded arm 228 carries a roller resting on the chain 22010 open a normally-closed limit switch LS-27 should the chain become slack as a result of the platform jamming on its downward move-. ment.

Apron Apron 55 is in the form of a plate adapted to be moved from a retracted position above the empty pallet magazine 50 to a position at the top of shaft 54 to overlie the pallet resting upon the lift platform 53.

Apron 55 is indexed in increments or steps to receive successive rows of cartons transferred from the buildup area. When the apron has received its full pattern load, it withdraws over the empty pallet magazine, beneath a stripper beam 229 positioned above the path of travel of the apron, at the adjacent end of the magazine, serving to slide the layer of cartons off the apron onto the pallet.

Wheels 230 (Fig. 6) mounted to angle irons 231 secured to the underside of the apron ride in tracks 232 carried at the top of the machine frame and extend over the shaft 54 as well as empty pallet magazine 50.

Apron 55 is actuated by chains 233 (Fig. 5) attached"v at opposite ends to the apron and passed around sprockets 234 fixed to parallel horizontal shafts 235 and 236. Shaft 236 has an extension keyed to a sprocket 237 of a diameter smaller than that of the sprockets 234. A bracket 238 on the machine frame supports a hydraulic cylinder 239 having its piston rod coupled to a carriage 240 which rides in tracks 241. Attached at its opposite ends to the carriage is a chain 242 passed around the sprocket 237 and around a sprocket 243 journalled in a chain tensioning device 244. As the rod strokes out or strokes in, the apron is reciprocated, moving in the tracks 232. As the diameter of the sprocket237 is (in the present instance) one half of the diameter of the sprocket 234, the apron moves twice the distance of the stroke of the cylinder rod. The arrangement is such that when:

the rod moves in, the apron strokes out, to receive a row of cartons from the build-up area.

-Slidably supported near the outer end of apron tracks 232 is a bumper 247 which is normally urged inwardly as by springs 247a. At its bottom, bumper 247 has a flange 247b arranged to be engaged by the leading edge of the apron on its out stroke. When the apron is withdrawn, springs 247a move bumper 247 inwardly to. straighten any cartons which tend to tip over.

7 Hydraulic cylinder 239 is controlled by a 4-way spring centered solenoid operated hydraulic valve V7 (Fig. 21 Attached to thecarriage 240 is a limit switch actuator 240a which actuates limit switches LS-11, LS-lla, LS-llb, LS-llc and LS10.

- Fixed to the underside of the apron is a striker 245 positioned adjacent the leading edge of the apron, and adapted to actuate full pallet lift control 246.

Full pallet lift control lift control 246 aforesaid, during the period that the several layers of load are being assembled on the platform.

r The control comprises an arm 248 (Figs. 13 and 14) having a hub 249 rotatable on a fixed shaft 250 supported in a bracket 251 carried by a member 252 of the machine frame positioned to lie below the plane of travel of the apron 55. Journalled in a bearing 254 carried by the bracket 248 is a shaft 255 to one end of which are secured a pair of fingers 256 carrying a finger roller 257.

The arm 248 is urged in a clockwise rotation by a conventional spring loaded dash pot 258, operatively connected to the arm by a link-rod 260. The clockwise rotation of the arm is limited by the engagement of an abutment 261 on the hub 249 with a screw 262 carried by an angle 263 secured to the bracket 25. The extended position of the arm 248 is such that the finger roller 257 overlies the lift platform. The arm is rotated counter-clockwise by the striker 245 as the apron moves on its withdrawing stroke to drop the layer of cartons on the apron onto the pallet.

The roller 257 of the finger is held in a predetermined normal position, more or less horizontal, by a lug 264 rotating with the shaft 255 and engaging a screw 265 adjustably carried by the bracket 248. Also rotating with the shaft 255 is a cam 266 adapted to open a normallyclosed limit switch LS-25 when the finger 257 is rotated or raised by a pallet or a carton lying on a pallet in the shaft.

Journalled on the shaft 250 is a collar 267a carrying a cam lever 267, and urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 268 tensioned between a lug 269 on the collar 267a the bracket 251. The upper end of the hub 249 is formed with an arcuate projection 270 which is received in an arcuate recess 271 formed in the lower edge of the hub 267a. The arcuate length of the recess 271 is greater than that of the projection 270 in efliect providing a lost-motion clutch. The tension in the spring 268 retains the leading edge of the projection in engagement with one end of the recess 271 as the arm is urged clockwise during retraction of the apron. The lever 267 is however free to rotate clockwise relatively to the bracket 248 until trailing edge of the projection engages with the opposite end of the recess. The lever 267 is actuated by the striker 245 secured to the underside of the apron and is positioned to engage a roller 272 carried by the end of the lever 267. The striker is also positioned a short distance from the leading edge of the apron, so that the lever 267 will be engaged shortly before the apron reaches.

its full retracted position.

Fixed to the hub 249 is a limit switch striker 273- adapted to close thenormally-open contacts and open the normally-closed contacts of a limit switch LS-26 as the.

arm rotates oounterrclockwise upon retraction of the apron 55.

Normally, the arm 248 is disposed in the position shown.

position withdrawn from the shaft and free of the pallet and cartons on the full pallet lift. At this stage, the layer of cartons is deposited on the lift and actuation of limit switch LS-26 by the striker 273 initiates lowering movement of the lift. After the striker 245 on the spron 55 has passed the roller 272, the lever 267 as well as arm 248 are released to the action of the spring-loaded dash pot 258 causing the arm 248 to turn in a clockwise direction about the shaft 250. This clockwise movement is arrested upon engagement of the finger roller 257 with the side of a carton on the pull pallet lift so the lift continues to lower until the finger 257 passes over the top surface of the uppermost layer of cartons and releases.

limit switch 226 with the arm 248 and finger roller 257 extended into the shaft. Then, the direction of movement of .the full pallet lift is reversed so the lift is raised and raises the top surface of the uppermost layer of cartons into engagement with finger roller 257. Turning of fingerroller 257 and shaft 255 actuates striker 266 and limit switch LS-25 to stop movement of the lift with the upper surface of the cartons disposed immediately beneath the apron. When the apron strokes forward to receive additional rows of cartons, striker 245 engages roller 272 and turns hub 267A about the shaft 250 against the action of spring 268, but by reason of the lost motion coupling between the hub 267A and the hub 249, the striker 245 passes the roller 272 without affecting the arm 248. After the striker 245 has passed the roller 272, the spring 268 returns the roller 272 and its associated lever arm 267 to the position shown in Fig. 13 where retraction of the apron will initiate another cycle of operation of the full pallet lift control.

Carton locator stop The carton locator stop is positioned above the apron on the side opposite the infeed end of the conveyer belt,

and in alignment with the belt to be engaged by -a line of cartons transferred onto the apron by the pusher of the transfer mechanism. This locator stop serves two pur poses: (l) to stop and selectively locate the end of the row of cartons transferred onto the apron, and, (2) to detect the end of the transfer operation.

As the completed pattern of cartons on the apron does not present, in plan, a square or rectangle because of the relative disposition of the cartons (some of the cartons are presented lengthwise across the apron and others transversely) the stop device is adapted to stop the rows in two difierent positions.

Forinstance, if the pattern to be assembled or built up on the apron is that shown in Figure 1, the locator.

I the device is selected by the counter circuit in a manner to be described.

The carton locator stop includes a carriage 274 (Figs. 15 and 16), in the form of a U, having side Wheels 275 running in tracks carried by members 277 secured to the 

